Extending the Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma Examination in Children

Lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of neonatal respiratory failure prior to patient transport

PURPOSE

Lung ultrasound (LUS) at the point-of-care is a new method that is increasingly used in neonatology. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of the addition of LUS prior to the interhospital transport of neonates with respiratory failure.

METHODS

LUS was performed on 50 newborns with respiratory failure prior to transport to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. We analyzed the performance of LUS for diagnosing the cause of respiratory failure, the concordance between LUS, chest X-ray (CXR) and final clinical diagnosis, and the impact of LUS on clinical decision making before transport.

RESULTS

LUS sensitivity for the diagnosis of respiratory distress syndrome was 91.3% (95%CI: 70.5-98.5%), and specificity was 92.6% (95%CI: 74.2-98.7%), whereas sensitivity and specificity of CXR were 69.6% (95%CI: 47.0-85.9%) and 81.5% (95%CI: 61.2-92.9%), respectively. For the recognition of pneumothorax (PTX) LUS had a sensitivity of 83.3% (95%CI: 36.5-99.1%) and a specificity of 100% (95%CI: 89.9-100%). For CXR, sensitivity was 16.7% (95%CI: 0.01-63.5%) and specificity was 97.7% (95%CI: 86.4-99.9%). The agreement between LUS and CXR in diagnosing the cause of respiratory failure was substantial (κ of 0.57 [95%CI: 0.40-0.74]) and the agreement between LUS and the final clinical diagnosis was very good (κ of 0.86 [95%CI: 0.74-0.98]). In 42% of the patients, a LUS examination prior to transport indicated the need for endotracheal tube repositioning or PTX decompression.

CONCLUSION

LUS may be a reliable imaging technique for differentiating the causes of respiratory failure before neonatal transport. Use of LUS may optimize the care of infants during transport.

A Potential Pitfall of Using Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma in Pediatric Trauma

Prospective studies have shown sensitivities of 73% to 88% and specificities of 98% to 100% for using the focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) examination to identify free fluid in adult trauma patients. However, the efficacy of FAST examinations for pediatric trauma patients has not been well defined, and studies looking at diagnostic performance have had varied results. We describe 3 cases of the potential pitfalls of the pediatric FAST examination in pediatric trauma patients using an advanced-processing ultrasound machine. We hypothesize several etiologies for these false-positive findings in the setting of advanced image-processing capabilities of point-of-care ultrasound. We also discuss the reevaluation of clinical algorithms and interpretation practices when using the FAST examination in pediatric trauma.

Pediatric emergency medicine point-of-care ultrasound: summary of the evidence

The utility of point-of-care ultrasound is well supported by the medical literature. Consequently, pediatric emergency medicine providers have embraced this technology in everyday practice. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a policy statement endorsing the use of point-of-care ultrasound by pediatric emergency medicine providers.  To date, there is no standard guideline for the practice of point-of-care ultrasound for this specialty. This document serves as an initial step in the detailed "how to" and description of individual point-of-care ultrasound examinations.  Pediatric emergency medicine providers should refer to this paper as reference for published research, objectives for learners, and standardized reporting guidelines.

Point-of-care ultrasound in paediatric emergency medicine

Point-of-care ultrasound (POC US) is an adjunct to clinical paediatric emergency medicine practice that is rapidly evolving, improving the outcomes of procedural techniques such as vascular access, nerve blocks and fluid aspiration and showing the potential to fast-track diagnostic streaming in a range of presenting complaints and conditions, from shock and respiratory distress to skeletal trauma. This article reviews the procedural and diagnostic uses, both established and emerging, and provides an overview of the necessary components of quality assurance during this introductory phase.

Emergency Point-of-Care Ultrasound Detection of Cancer in the Pediatric Emergency Department

The use of point-of-care ultrasound in the pediatric emergency department is evolving beyond conventional applications as users become more expert with the technology. In this case series, we describe the potential utility of recognizing abnormal anatomy to impact care in the context of possible cancer in pediatric patients. We describe 4 patients with Langerhans histiocytosis, neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, and rhabdomyosarcoma, in which point-of-care ultrasound was used to facilitate the diagnoses.

False-positive focused abdominal sonography in trauma in a hypotensive child: case report

We report a case of a false-positive focused abdominal sonography in trauma (FAST) examination in a persistently hypotensive pediatric trauma patient, performed 12 hours after the trauma, suspected to be caused by massive fluid resuscitation leading to ascites. While a positive FAST in a hypotensive trauma patient usually indicates hemoperitoneum, this case illustrates that the timing of the FAST examination relative to the injury, as well as clinical evolution including the volume of fluid resuscitation, need to be considered when interpreting the results of serial and/or late FAST examinations.